KR20240138167A - Ice making device and refrigerator including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an ice maker mounted on a cooling base, comprising: an ice maker body; and an ice tray that is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice-making groove for accommodating ice-making water and are removably coupled to each other; and an ice maker including a refrigerator that includes the same, wherein the ice maker has a structure in which the ice maker tray rotates at a predetermined angle and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice maker tray moves to separate ice.

Description

ICE MAKING DEVICE AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE SAME

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that stores food at low temperatures to prevent food from spoiling at room temperature. Recently, products equipped with refrigerator ice makers that provide ice to users separately from food have been released.

An ice maker for a refrigerator includes an ice tray having a plurality of ice-making grooves formed therein to automatically supply water and make ice of a certain size, an ice bank provided at the bottom of the ice tray to store ice separated by an ice-slicing motor, and a driving unit mounted on one side of the ice bank to drive the ice.

Here, there may be two methods for separating the ice made in the ice making tray: a twist type in which the ice making tray itself is twisted using the aforementioned separating motor to separate the separating ice from the ice making groove and then drop it into the ice bank below it; and a heater type in which a metal ice making tray is provided with an ice separating heater to apply a predetermined amount of separating heat to separate the separating ice from the ice making groove and then a separate separating ejector is rotated to push the ice to one side of the ice making tray and drop it into the ice bank below it.

Recently, various shapes such as circular ice for cocktails have been demanded, and problems such as ice sticking together when frozen while stored in an ice box have occurred, so the demand for circular ice and transparent ice that can reduce the contact area between ice has been increasing. In the case of ice of such various shapes, problems such as water leakage occurring during the ice making process may occur.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-0299243 (Publication date: June 7, 2001)

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, and its purpose is to provide an ice maker in which the ice tray of the ice maker is improved to have a specific structure so that the ice produced can be easily separated, and the ice maker can be miniaturized due to the improved structure.

The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

An ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention,

Ice maker body; and

An ice making tray is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably connected to each other;

The ice making tray may include a structure in which the ice making tray rotates at a predetermined angle and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice making tray moves to separate ice.

An ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention,

Ice maker body; and

An ice making tray is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably connected to each other;

The ice making tray may include a structure in which the ice making tray rotates at a predetermined angle, and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice making tray slides laterally to separate ice.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined angle is 90°, and the ice tray can rotate eccentrically.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the center of rotation of the rotation may be formed inside the ice tray.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower tray can prevent the residual water from falling by pointing upward at a predetermined angle during the lateral movement.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making home may include a structure in which the supply is controlled according to the measured water pressure.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the heater unit may include a structure disposed on at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the ice-making water may be provided on at least one side of the lower tray and the upper tray; and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice-making water may be provided on at least one side of the lower tray and the upper tray.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper tray may include a sliding projection that comes into contact with the upper tray as the upper tray moves.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper tray can be manufactured by including at least one of silicone, Keplon, ABS, and PP.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rack gear portion for moving the lower tray laterally may be included.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice tray may include a heater unit disposed on one side.

A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet forming an exterior of the refrigerator and forming an internal storage space; a door opening and closing the storage space of the cabinet; and an ice maker arranged on one side of the cabinet;

The above ice maker,

An ice maker body; and an ice tray rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, the ice tray including an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice-making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably coupled to each other;

The ice making tray may include a structure in which the ice making tray rotates at a predetermined angle, and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice making tray slides and moves to separate ice.

An ice maker including an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention and a refrigerator including the same provide a miniaturized ice maker by improving an ice tray of the ice maker to a specific structure so that ice made can be easily separated.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of a refrigerator equipped with an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of an ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the ice-making operation of an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a drawing schematically illustrating the movement of an ice tray by a rack gear unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the operation of an upward-facing ice tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

When adding reference signs to components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same signs as much as possible even if they are shown on different drawings. In addition, when describing an embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function hinders understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by the terms. In addition, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant technology, and shall not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in this application.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a refrigerator equipped with an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of an ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an ice removal operation of an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a drawing schematically showing the movement of an ice tray by a rack gear unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the operation of an ice tray directed upward according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a refrigerator (1) may include a cabinet forming a storage compartment with an open front, and at least one door (8, 9) for opening and closing the open front of the storage compartment.

The storage room may include at least one of a refrigerator for storing food in a refrigerated state and a freezer for storing food in a frozen state. The refrigerator (1) of the present embodiment is exemplified as including both the refrigerator and the freezer, and the refrigerator may be provided above the freezer.

The doors (8, 9) may include a refrigerator door (8) for opening and closing the refrigerator, and a freezer door (9) for opening and closing the freezer. The refrigerator doors (8) are provided in two pieces arranged left and right, so that the left refrigerator door (8) can open and close the left side of the refrigerator, and the right refrigerator door (8) can open and close the right side of the remaining part of the refrigerator.

The ice box may be installed in the storage room of the refrigerator (1). The ice box may be placed at the bottom of the ice maker (100). The ice box may be formed in a tubular shape with an open top. Ice made in the ice maker (100) may be transferred from the ice maker (100) to the ice box, and stored in the ice box.

An auger may be placed inside the ice box. The auger may be installed so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the ice box. Each end of the auger may be rotatably coupled to each side of the ice box. A spiral groove may be formed on an outer surface of the auger. When the auger rotates, it may transport ice stored in the ice box to the outside of the ice box through the spiral groove. The auger may be rotated by the driving force of an auger motor installed on one side of the ice box.

An ice maker (100) may be installed in at least one of the refrigerator and the freezer. In the refrigerator (1) of the present embodiment, an ice maker (100) may be installed in the upper left side of the refrigerator.

The ice maker (100) can receive ice-making water from the refrigerator (1) and can produce ice by turning the ice-making water into ice using cold air supplied to the storage room from the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator (1).

The ice maker (100) according to the present embodiment may include a heater type and a twist type depending on the type of ice that is made.

Here, an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an ice-making tray (200) formed by a driving unit (not shown) in which at least one gear is engaged, and a pair of upper trays (210) and lower trays (220) provided on one side of the driving unit and forming a plurality of ice-making grooves (15).

The control box (110) of the ice maker (100) can accommodate a number of electrical components, including a driving motor, gears, etc. that drive the driving unit. The driving unit (50) in the control box (110) can be controlled to perform an operation through a control unit (not shown). The ice tray (200) rotates by the driving force of the driving motor, and the upper tray (210) moves laterally to separate ice in the ice-making groove (15).

The full ice detection unit (not shown) may be formed as a lever type that is rotatably provided on the driving unit of the control box (110). In one example, the full ice detection unit may be formed as a structure that detects in a horizontal rotation manner.

The above-described full ice detection unit may be equipped with a light sensor (not shown) consisting of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. A signal detected by the above-described full ice detection unit may be input to the control unit, and the control unit may determine whether the ice stored in the ice box is full through the signal input from the full ice detection unit. If the ice stored in the ice bank is full, the control unit may stop the supply of ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove and stop the production of ice. Of course, if the ice stored in the ice bank is not full, the control unit may restart the production of ice. The lifespan of the light sensor may be improved by configuring it to be turned on only during regular or irregular full ice detection.

An ice maker (100) according to the present invention comprises an ice maker body, an ice tray (200) including an upper tray (210) and a lower tray (220) that are rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body and form an ice-making groove (15) for receiving ice-making water and are detachably coupled to each other, and a heater unit (not shown) disposed on one side of the lower tray (220), wherein the ice tray (200) rotates at a predetermined angle, and the ice tray (200) rotated at the predetermined angle may include a structure in which at least one of the upper tray (210) and the lower tray (220) moves horizontally to separate ice. Preferably, the lower tray (220) may be fixed, and the upper tray (210) may be included in a structure in which the ice (C) is gripped and moves horizontally to separate ice.

The ice tray (200) can be rotated at a predetermined angle, and after being rotated at a predetermined angle, at least one of the upper tray (210) and the lower tray (220) can be moved laterally by a rack gear (not shown) to be separated. After being separated, the moved tray can be returned by the rack gear. The predetermined angle can be determined by a person skilled in the art, and preferably, it can be an angle of 90° or less.

The ice maker (100) according to the present invention can separate ice (C) after the ice tray (200) is rotated at a predetermined angle and the lower tray (220) of the rotated ice tray is fixed, the upper tray (210) is moved laterally by the rack gear unit, and is positioned at a freezing point. When the ice (C) is separated, the upper tray (210) is returned laterally by the rack gear unit and coupled with the lower tray (220), and the coupled ice tray (200) can be rotated by the rotation shaft to return to the original position. In some cases, the ice tray (200) rotated at a predetermined angle can be returned to the original position by the elastic restoring force of an elastic spring (not shown) formed on the rotation cam of the upper tray (210).

Here, the method by which the upper tray (210) is separated from the freezing point is not particularly limited, and for example, the heater unit, which is close to or adheres to the upper surface of the upper tray (210) or is embedded inside the upper tray (210), may be operated at the freezing point of the upper tray (210) to separate the ice, or the ice protrusion (230) may be formed to come into contact with the upper tray (210) and the ice protrusion (230) may push out the frozen ice by the movement of the upper tray (210), thereby separating the ice.

In addition, the ice maker (100) according to the present invention may be formed with a support member (50) that fixes the ice maker body to be coupled to one side of the refrigerator (1), and a water supply member (250) that supplies the ice-making water may be provided on the support member (50). At this time, water may be supplied through the water supply member (250) while the upper tray (210) is moved to one side and the upper part of the ice-making groove (15) is open.

Specifically, the ice maker (100) according to the present invention comprises an ice maker body (not shown) forming the outer appearance of the entire ice maker, an ice tray (200) comprising an upper tray (210) and a lower tray (220) that are rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body and form an ice-making groove (15) in which ice-making water is received, a driving unit that is received in the ice maker body and provides rotational force to rotate the ice-making tray (200), a heater unit that is arranged on one side of the lower tray (220), an ice fullness detection unit that is formed on one side of the ice maker body and detects the fullness of an ice box (not shown), a water supply unit (250) that is formed on one side of the ice maker body and supplies the ice-making water to the ice-making groove (15) of the ice tray (200), and a rack gear unit that guides the upper tray (210) to move in a rotational direction in conjunction with the driving unit while ice (C) is held and to a point where ice is separated. It can be configured. In the drawings of the present invention, the drawings are provided as an example for explaining one embodiment, and the configuration of a storage unit to which ice (C) is moved after ice (C) is produced, and an auger motor and a screw installed in the storage unit, etc., are omitted.

The ice tray (200) may be configured to include a pair of upper trays (210) and lower trays (220) that are mutually detachable. The upper trays (210) and lower trays (220) of the ice tray (200) may be mutually coupled to form a circular ice groove (15). The ice grooves (15) may be formed in the shape of a plurality of concave grooves spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the ice tray (200), and preferably may be formed in a circular or oval cross section.

The ice tray (200) may include a pair of upper trays (210) and lower trays (220) that are detachably coupled to each other as described above. A rotary cam (not shown) extending to one side and a rotary hinge shaft (not shown) extending horizontally from the rotary cam may be connected and formed at both ends of the lower tray (220). Here, the rotary hinge shaft may be inserted into the ice maker body through the rotary cam and rotated by the driving of the driving unit, and may transmit driving force to the rotary cam to rotate the ice tray (200) at a predetermined angle. Here, the rotary cam may be formed with a section capable of idling around the origin.

The ice tray (200) can be manufactured by including at least one of silicone, Keplon, ABS, and PP, and can have elasticity. The ice maker (100) can include a rack gear portion (not shown) that moves the upper tray (210) or the lower tray (220) laterally, and an ice projection (230) that is included so as to be in contact with the upper tray (220) or the lower tray (220). For example, a predetermined angle at which the ice tray (200) rotates can be an angle of 90° or less, and after the ice tray (200) is rotated at the predetermined angle, at least one of the upper tray (210) and the lower tray (220) of the rotated ice tray (200) can be slid laterally by the rack gear portion. The rack gear section can move one of the upper tray (210) and the lower tray (220) laterally to bring the elastic tray section formed of an elastic body of the upper tray (220) into contact with the ice removal protrusion (230), and the upper tray (210) can generate pressure inwardly by the ice removal protrusion (230), and the ice (C) created by the ice removal protrusion (230) can be pushed out and separated. After the ice removal, the upper tray (210) returns laterally and is re-engaged with the lower tray (220) that is waiting after rotation, so that the rotated ice removal tray (200) can return to its original position. The return to the original position can be performed by rotation by the rotation shaft or by the elastic force of an elastic spring. The ice removal tray (200) that has returned to its original position can repeat the ice making and separation process according to a predetermined ice making procedure.

According to FIG. 6, the ice tray (200) may be rotated at an angle of less than 90° and may be included so as to face upward. When the ice tray (200) moves upward, residual water that may be formed inside the ice tray (200) may be prevented from escaping to the outside.

The upper case (210) may be included so as to be spaced apart from the lower case (220). The lower case (220) has heaters arranged at a predetermined interval. An electrode rod (not shown) may be formed on one side of the lower case (210), so that the amount of water supplied, etc. may be controlled by voltage supply or changes in electrostatic capacity. In some cases, it goes without saying that the heater may also be arranged in the upper case (220).

Here, the upper case (210) can slide laterally along the rack gear section according to the operation of the driving section of the control box (110) while one side is fixed to the rack gear section formed on one side. Accordingly, as the upper case (210) moves laterally, ice (C) can be separated and moved from the ice-making groove (15). Accordingly, when the ice-making operation of the ice maker (100) is performed, the lower tray (220) does not move, and the upper tray (210) can slide in one direction along the rack gear section to separate the ice (C).

According to the present invention, as described above, the lower case (220) of the ice maker (100) is fixed, and the upper case (210) is characterized by a configuration in which ice (C) accommodated inside the ice-making groove (15) is moved horizontally by the rack gear part. This is because, during the ice-moving operation, the bottom of the lower case (220) is first heated by the heater part arranged in the lower case (220) so that the ice (C) is moved apart, and secondly, when the upper case (210) rotates, the moved ice (C) can be easily moved while being held in the ice-making groove (15) of the upper case (210).

The control box (110) may be formed in a square shape. The control box (110) may be placed at one end of the ice tray (200). One end of the ice tray (200) may be placed at one side of the control box (110). The length of the ice tray (200) may extend horizontally from one side of the control box (110). A water supply unit (250) may be placed near the other end of the ice tray (200). The water supply unit (250) may form a path for supplying ice water to the ice-making groove (15). The ice water supplied to the ice-making groove (15) may be cooled by cold air in the storage compartment of the refrigerator (1) and turned into ice (C).

The heater section may be formed on the upper surface of the upper tray (210) of the ice tray (200) at a predetermined interval. The heater section according to the present invention may be a surface heater or a silicon cord heater, and preferably may be a surface heater. Heat may be transferred through surface contact between the surface heater and the surface of the upper tray (210) of the ice tray (200), and ice may be separated by the heat transfer. The ice maker body (300) and the heater section may be configured to be electrically connected by a silicon wire. In addition, the power connection section of the heater section may be provided on a separate hinge rotation cap member.

The heater section may be formed on a curved portion forming one side of the upper tray (210) of the ice making tray (200), i.e., the upper side of the ice making groove (15). The upper tray (210) of the ice making tray includes a portion extending horizontally to both sides centered on the curved portion, and a heater mounting portion (not shown) may be formed on the curved portion to stably support the heater section.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the ice maker (100) may be formed on one side of the ice tray (200). This temperature sensor may be formed on the side of the upper tray (210) of the ice tray (200) or the bottom surface of the lower tray (220), and may be formed at a location where it is not interfered with by the rotation of the ice tray (200). This temperature sensor may also be formed in a manner that it directly contacts the lower tray (220) or the ice (C). In addition, a water level sensor (not shown) for measuring the water level of the ice groove (15) may be formed on one side of the ice tray (200). This water level sensor may be formed on the side or bottom surface of the lower tray (220), and may be positioned so that a portion of it comes into contact with the ice-making water of the ice groove (15). The temperature sensor and the water level sensor may be formed integrally and configured to detect the temperature and the water level, respectively.

In addition, a sealing member (not shown) may be formed between the upper tray (210) and the lower tray (220) of the ice making tray (200) to prevent ice making water contained in the ice making groove (15) from leaking outward during ice making.

Hereinafter, the movement operation of the ice making tray (200) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. First, when ice making is completed and an ice separation operation is performed, the ice making tray (200) can be rotated at a predetermined angle by the rotation hinge axis. The ice (C) of the rotated ice making tray (200) can be separated from the lower tray (220) by the operation of the heater unit. Next, the upper tray (210) is moved laterally along the movement path of the rack gear unit while holding the ice (C) and is positioned at the ice separation point, and then the ice (C) can be separated downward from the ice making groove (15) by the ice separation protrusion (230). Next, the upper tray (210) can be moved laterally along the rack gear unit to be connected to the lower tray (220), and can be rotated at a predetermined angle to return to the original position to repeat the ice making process.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of an ice tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to these drawings, the ice tray (200) of the ice maker (100) according to the present invention may be configured to include a lower tray (220), an upper tray (210) that is rotatably mounted to the lower tray (220) and has an open lower portion.

The ice-making grooves (15) of the ice maker (100) may be formed in a plurality in one direction and connected by a water supply connection part (16). Accordingly, ice-making water flowing into an ice-making groove (15) may flow into an adjacent ice-making groove (15) through the water supply connection part (16).

According to the present invention, a cooling pipe (20) may be formed in close proximity or contact with the upper surface portion of the upper tray (210) or the lower surface portion of the lower tray (220) described above. When such a cooling pipe (20) is arranged in the upper tray (210), it may be arranged in a form in close proximity or contact between the upper tray (210) and the elastic tray portion, that is, between the bent portions. Accordingly, the ice-making water that may be generated at the contact surface portion of the upper tray (210) and the elastic tray portion can be easily removed.

In some cases, the ice maker (100) according to the present invention may be mounted on a refrigerator body, door, or portable refrigerator.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and that various modifications and implementations within an equivalent scope are possible by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, it will be said that the true scope of the rights of the present invention is determined by the claims described below.

1: Refrigerator
8, 9: Door
15: Ice making home
16: Water supply connection section
20: Cooling pipe
100: Ice maker
110: Control box
200: Ice tray
210: Top Tray
220: Lower tray
230: Iving Dolgi
250: Water supply

Claims (13)

In an ice maker mounted on a cooling body,
Ice maker body; and
An ice making tray is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably connected to each other;
An ice maker comprising a structure in which the ice tray rotates at a predetermined angle and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice tray moves to separate ice.
In an ice maker mounted on a cooling body,
Ice maker body; and
An ice making tray is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably connected to each other;
An ice maker comprising a structure in which the ice tray rotates at a predetermined angle, and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice tray moves laterally to separate ice.
In claim 1 or 2,
The above specified angle is 90°,
The above ice tray is an eccentrically rotating ice maker.
In claim 1 or 2,
The center of rotation of the above rotation is,
An ice maker formed inside the above ice tray.
In claim 1 or 2,
The above ice tray,
An ice maker that prevents the falling of residual water by aiming upward at a predetermined angle during the above-mentioned horizontal movement.
In claim 1 or 2,
An ice maker including a structure in which ice water supplied to the ice-making home is controlled according to measured water pressure.
In claim 1 or 2,
An ice maker, wherein the heater section includes a structure disposed on at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray.
In claim 1 or 2,
A water level sensor for detecting the water level of the ice-making water on at least one side of the lower tray and the upper tray; and
An ice maker, wherein a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice water is provided on at least one side of the lower tray and the upper tray.
In claim 1 or 2,
An ice maker, comprising: a moving projection that comes into contact with the upper tray as the upper tray moves;
In claim 1 or 2,
An ice maker, wherein the ice tray is manufactured by including at least one of silicone, Kefron, ABS and PP.
In claim 1 or 2,
An ice maker, comprising: a rack gear unit for moving the lower tray laterally.
In paragraph 1 or 2,
The above ice tray,
An ice maker, comprising a heater unit disposed on one side.
A cabinet that forms the exterior of a refrigerator and forms internal storage space;
A door for opening and closing the storage space of the above cabinet; and
An ice maker is disposed on one side of the cabinet;
The above ice maker,
Ice maker body; and
An ice making tray is rotatably mounted on one side of the ice maker body, and includes an upper tray and a lower tray that form an ice making groove for receiving ice water and are detachably connected to each other;
A refrigerator comprising a structure in which the ice making tray rotates at a predetermined angle and at least one of the upper tray and the lower tray of the rotated ice making tray moves to separate ice.